Air treatment device



Feb. 2, 1943. J. w. CARMAN 2,309,335

' AIR TREATMENT DEVICE. Filed July 30, 1941 3. Sheets-Sheet 1 JAMKS W 04mm INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1943. J. w. CARMAN 2,309,835

AIR TREATMENT DEVICE V Filed July so, 1941 a Sheets-Sheet 2 I l6. l0 30 3 28 40 4/ 40 .JAMES W 043mm 30 INVENTOR 27 Fla. /2 ATTORNEY-S Feb. 2, 1943. w, CARMA'N 2,309,885

AIR TREATMENT DEVICE Filed July so. 1941 s Sheets- Sheet s 1 JAMESWCARMAN INVENTOR x/X \\\Y\:\K\\\\ \\l\\\ K FIG... ATTORNEYS q Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR TREATMENT DEVICE James W. C'arman, Seattle, Wash.

Application July 30, 1941, Serial No. 404,705

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in air treatment devices and is more particularly associated with means for purifying toilet gases and disposing of them in a sanitary manner.

An important object of my invention is to provide an improved air collection mechanism operated by a vacuum fan for picking up, conveying away, and purifying toilet gases.

Another object of my invention relates to the provision of an improved pick-up or collector member for an air purifier mechanism.

A further object of my invention relates to an improved control means for an air purifier mechanism for collecting toilet gases and conveying them, which means is operable by pressure applied at a remote point from the air purifier mechanism.

Still another object of my invention relates to the provision of an improved sterilizing and deodorizing means for air purifying.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent during the course of the following description.

While I have shown in the drawings and described a preferred form of my invention it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made without departing from the principles of the invention as defined by the sub-joined claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a fragment of a toilet and its appurtenances illustrating the manner in which my mechanism may be installed,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pneumatic switch operating means employed in my device,

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustratin the manner in which the pneumatic member affects an electrical circuit in my mechanism,

Figures '7 and 8 are vertical, cross-sectional views showing the open and closed positions respectively of the pneumatically operated switch employed in my device,

Figure 9 illustrates, in section, venting means for the pneumatic switch-closing mechanism,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the intake member of my venting mechanism,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line ll--I| of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional View taken on line l2-i2of Figure 10,

Figure 13 is a face View of the suction creating vacuum fan and. of its appurtenances,

Figur 14 is a sectional view of the mechanism of Figure 13, I 1

Figure 15 is a plan view partially in section of the mechanism of Figures 13 and 14,

Figures 16 and 17, respectively, are cross-sew tional views taken on lines l6 and ll of Figure 14,

Figure l8v is a perspective view of an element supporting member employed in my device, and

Figure 19 illustrates schematically the manner inwhich the heating elements of Figures 16 and 17 are arranged in the air passage of my mechanism.

The numeral 20 designates a toilet bowl having a seat 22 and a cover 24 hingedly mounted thereon .by pivot bolts 26 that pass through a rear flange 21 on the bowl.

An intake memben'clearly shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12, comprises a body 28 having a relatively fiat cross-sectional portion in the middle and round threaded ends 30 communicating therewith for association with the conduit 32 which may be fastened to either end by a coupling ring 34. When the conduit is attached the other end will be closed by a cap 35.

The intermediate portion of the collector 28 has an arcuate face 36 that is provided with a plurality of ports 31. On the rear edge of the body 28 are perforate straps 38 through which the bolt 26 pass to clamp the member securely on the rear of the bowl and under the rear edge of the seat 22. In its upper face the member 28 is grooved at 40 as is clearly shown in Figures 10 and 12.

The exhaust conduit 32 receives air picked up by the intake member 28 and conveys it, under the urgence of a vacuum created by the fan 42 in the housing 44. The air is exhausted from the fan through the conduit 46.

The fan 42 is rotated by the motor 45 which is electrically operated and is controlled by the switch mechanism in the switch casing 49. A nipple coupled to the discharge or outlet end of the fan housing 44 receives the air being exhausted by the fan and directs it to the ultimate exhaust passage 52,

In the passage formed by the nipple 50 I mount supporting rings 54 having a, plurality of hooks 55 for the reception of either the element 56 or 58, The rings 54 are preferably formed of insulating material capable of withstanding relatively high heat. The elements are supported on the hooks 55 in the manner indicated in the Figures 16 and 17 and are electrically connected after the manner of the schematic showing of Figure 19.

The motor 45 and the elements 55 and 58 are part of an electrical circuit which is under control of the switch contained in the housing 49.

A screen 59 is interposed in the conduit 52 or at least in the stream of air passing therethroug-h in such a way that the air must pass through the interstices of the screen. Being of metal and being arranged in relatively close proximity to the elements 56 and 58, the screen 59 will acquire a high degree of heat and will function upon germ bacteria and the like in the air stream to their detriment and thus produce an improved efficiency in the device as well as permitting a higher degree of purification and sterilization.

Current from any suitable source is supplied to the binding posts 50 and 62 which have, on their inner ends inside of the housing 49, the contactor arms 54 and 56, respectively. Arms 64 and 66 are formed of spring material and are biased apart to the open position. Beneath them is the insulator dish 68 and below that is the infiatable envelope or sac 10 which, when inflated as shown in Figure 8, raises the lower contactor arm 66 to close a circuit between the post 60 and 52.

Air is supplied to the envelope or sac Hi by means of the tubing 12 which is intimately connected to either or both of the compressible air flasks 14 that are fastened to the underside of the seat 22 by the flanges 76. In a preferable form of my invention I protect the tubing 12 by means of the coiled wire encasing member 18.

The switch 49, and also the motor 45 and the heater elements 56 and 58, are mounted at a. remote point from the toilet seat in a housing 43. The compressible members 14 are associated with the toilet seat so that when a human body rests thereon they will compress and produce the expansion in the envelope 10.

The tube 12 and its protective covering 18 is led from the switch 49 through the conduit 32 to the toilet seat and thence out through an opening 4! in the housing 28 through a wye at 13 from whence it branches to the members 14. Normally the air in the envelope 10-, tube I2, or members 14, is at atmospheric pressure or slightly thereabove. It is desirable that means be provided whereby the air pressure is prevented from dropping below atmospheric pressure. For that reason the end of one of the tube members 14 is ported at 80 and has interiorly thereof a Thomas valve member 82 which will open in the event that the pressure, interior of the tube, is less than normal. This valve permits the inward flow of air from the outside but will resist the natural tendency of the air to escape through the port 80, when pressure is applied on the members 14 or the tube 12.

I claim:

In an air treatment for toilets wherein an air nozzle is positioned adjacent the seat and bowl for gathering air therefrom and fan means is employed to induce suction upon said nozzle and to convey away such air as is picked up to a remote point for disposal, an air purifier mechanism, comprising: an exhaust conduit from said fan, electrical elements disposed in said conduit in the path of a portion of the air being exhausted through the conduit, a reticulated member across said conduit on the exhaust side of said electrical elements and spaced therefrom, means for energizing said electrical elements upon operation of the fan, whereby when air is passed over them it will be heated and purified and a portion of the heat transferred therefrom to the reticulated element which thereupon treats the majority of the air passing through said conduit.

JAMES W. CARMAN. 

